THE International Concert Series 2018-19 begins at The Anvil on Tuesday, 2 October with the return of the Russian State Symphony Orchestra in a programme of Russian favourites.

Vasily Petrenko conducts a highly regarded British violinist Chloë Hanslip joins the orchestra.

The evening begins with Tchaikovsky’s ever-popular Swan Lake ballet suite which contains some of his most memorable music. This is followed by Prokofiev’s wonderful violin concerto, which encompasses some of his most gorgeous and rhapsodic music, and Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony, a richly scored, full-blooded masterpiece.

There is plenty of laughs to be had as the week progresses. On the same evening, Marcus Brigstocke will be at The Haymarket. The master of satirical comedy and star of QI, Have I Got News for You, and Mock the Week, brings his show Devil May Care to Basingstoke.

Off the back of his critically acclaimed role in Mel Brooks’ London West End revival of Young Frankenstein, comedy legend Ross Noble returns to his stand-up roots. He’ll be at The Anvil on Thursday, 4 October with his brand-new show El Hablador.

Ross recently fronted a new series for entertainment channel Dave, Ross Noble: Off Road, which followed the comedian as he took part in the motorbiking challenge Scottish Six Days Trial.

The Geordie comic has been performing stand-up since the age of 15 when he was smuggled into his local comedy club. Since then he has never looked back. He has undertaken 15 sell out tours, nine top selling stand-up DVD releases, and ranked 10th in Channel 4’s poll of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups. He is a former Time Out Award winner for ‘Best Live Stand-Up’, Barry Award winner (Australia) and Perrier Award nominee, with a shedload of other prestigious awards and nominations to boot. As well as performing on stage, Ross is a regular on panel shows such as QI (BBC One) and Have I Got News for You (BBC One).

For more information or for tickets, go to anvilarts.org.uk or call the Anvil Arts box office on 01256 844244.